Glove box lock with adjustable hook bolt



Oct. 10., 1961 E. N. JACOBI 3,003,348

GLOVE BOX LOCK WITH ADJUSTABLE HOOK BOLT Filed Nov. 14, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 him Oct. 10, 1961 E. N. JACOB! 3,003,348

GLOVE BOX LOCK WITH ADJUSTABLE HOOK BOLT Filed NOV. 14, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,003,348 GLOVE BOX LOCK WITH ADJUSTABLE HOOK BOLT Edward N. Jacobi, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Briggs &

Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 14, 1957, Ser. No. 696,381 Claims. (31. 70-84) This invention relates to automobile glove box latches and has more particular reference to glove box locks of the type having a pivotally mounted hook bolt which is actuated to a door releasing position upon depression of a push button.

Glove box locks of this type are either mounted on the door of the glove box compartment itself, adjacent to the free edge of the door, or upon the instrument panel of an automobile adjacent to an edge of the door opening in the panel, for example, on the door frame. In either event a typical glove box lock usually comprises a bored locked body having a push button actuator slidably received in its body and provided by a lock cylinder which is rotatable between defined locking and unlocking positions. The push button also slides back and forth between defined limits, cooperating stops on the lock cylinder and the lock body usually being provided for that purpose.

When the lock cylinder is in an unlocked position of rotation, depression thereof into the bore in the lock'body imparts swinging motion to a latch lever, pivotally cartied by the body, in a direction to disengage a hook on the outer end of the lever from a keeper to free the door for opening. This of course, requires a motion transmitting connection between the push button actuator and the latch lever, usually in the form of cooperating driving abutments on the inner end portion of the lock cylinder and on the latch lever. These driving abutments are normally maintained engaged with one another by a spring which acts upon the latch lever in a direction to yieldingly hold it in its keeper engaging position. In many instances, the same spring which biases the latch lever to its keeper engaging position is also relied upon as a return spring for the push button actuator, to press the same outwardly in its bore to one limit of motion.

In general, provision is also made for a degree of adjustment between the hook on the latch lever and the keeper, in an eflort to take care of inevitable variations in the assembled positions of the stamped door frame, the door hinges, and the door itself. However, in some present day automobiles the keeper must be located substantially farther from the lock body than was formerly the case, thus complicating the problem of providing sufiicient adjustability of the working parts needed to assure their proper interengagement.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a lock mechanism for the door or other closure of an automobile glove box, which mechanism features a hook bolt capable of substantial and easy adjustment, relative to a keeper, to enable the wide variations encountered in the assembled positions of the stamped door frame, the door hinges, and the door itself to be successfully met.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a glove box lock of the character described having a latch lever which is actuated from door latching to door unlatching positions by depression of a push button actuator, and wherein the latch lever has a keeper engaging hook thereon formed on the outer end of a bolt having a screw threaded connection between its inner end and the lever to enable substantial adjustment to be made in the spacing between the hook and the pivot axis of the lever.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a latch mechanism of the character described 'ice wherein cooperating means on the hook bolt and on guide means fixed with respect to the latch body normally prevents rotational adjustment of the hook bolt relative to the latch lever, without interfering with free motion of the lever between its door latching and unlatching positions.

In this respect it is a more specific object of this invention to provide a glove box lock mechanism of the character described wherein accidental rotational adjustment of the hook bolt relative to the latch lever is precluded in any normal position of the latch lever by the expedient of forming the hook bolt with opposite flat sides lying in planes normal to the pivot axis of the lever and guidingly received in a slot formed in a flange on the instrument panel, and whereby the latch lever and the hook bolt thereon must be moved in one direction beyond its keeper engaging position and out of said slot in order to provide for rotational adjustment of the bolt relative to the lever.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a glove box lock mechanism of the character described wherein the motion transmitting connection between the rotatable and axially slidable lock cylinder and the latch lever comprises cooperating driving abutments on the cylinder and the lever, one of which abutments is movable out of cooperative relationship with respect to the other abutment as a consequence of rotation of the lock cylinder to its locked position of rotation to disrupt said motion transmitting connection and enable depression of the push button actuator without imparting a corresponding motion to the latch lever, and whereby the latch lever and the hook bolt thereon may be moved beyond a normal keeper engaging position when the cylinder is in such locked position of rotation to effect disengagement of the hook bolt from the guide slot in the panel flange, for adjustment of the hook bolt as desired.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the glove box lock mechanism of this invention, showing the same installed upon an instrument panel;

. ;FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the lock mechanism shown in FIGURE 1, looking at the inner end thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows on the line 33 in FIG- URE l, and illustrating details of construction of the latch lever;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through FIGURE 1 dong the plane of the line 4-4, and showing the lock cylinder in its unlocked position of rotation;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the lock cylinder in its locked position of rotation;

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken through FIGURE 1 along the plane of the line 66, and showing the relationship between the driving abutments on the cylinder and the latch lever in the unlocked position of rotation of the cylinder;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 but showing the relationship between the driving abutments in the locked position of the cylinder; and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the latch lever and the hook bolt thereon in a posi tion at which the'hook bolt maybe adjusted to-increase or decrease the spacing of the hook on the end ofthe' bolt from-the pivot axis of the lever;

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, inwhich like numerals identify like parts. throughout the several views, the numeral 10 generally designates the lockmechanism of this'invention; The lock mechanism isshown installed upon the door frame 11 of an; automobile instrument panel-assembly adjacent' to the'upper edge of a door opening 12in the panel, and

functions to releasably hold a closure 13, such as ahinged door or the like, in a position closing off access to a glove compartment or'box (not shown) behind the closure. 9 7

The look mechanism comprises a body 15 having a bore 16 to rotatably and axifly slidably receive alock cylinder 17. The lock body is mounted on the back of the door frame 11, as by screws-19, in such aposition to provide access to the outer end of the lcck cyljnder which protrudes slightly from the bore to enable it tobe'readily engaged. and depressed by the finger of an operator of the automobile, as shown in FTGURE 1.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the insertion of .a proper key into the lock cylinder releases the cylinder for rotation between defined locking and unlocking positions. The manually depressible' push button actuator provided by the lock cylinder is also axially slidable in the body bore between defined limits. The inward limit of sliding motion of the actuator may be.determined by the engagement of an abutment 25' on the inner end of the cylinder with the bottom 26 of the bore in the lbek body; While a retaining'tumbler 27' in the lock cylinder is engageable with a bezel on theouter end of the lock body to" limit outward sliding motion of the actuator in the body bore;

The lock mechanism also includes a latch lever28. This lever has its medial portion" confined'between a pair ofears 15' which project downwardly from the lock body, and is pivotally mounted upon a cross pin 29for back and forth swinging motion about a horizontal axis normal to the axis of the push button actuator. The

lever, of course, is operated from a door latching position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 1 to an unlatching position shown in construction lines upon depression of the lock cylinder into the bore of the lock body.

The latch-lever 28 has an upwardly extending arm 30, the extremity of which operates in aslot 31 in the inner end portion of the lock body and provides an abutment 32 which faces outwardly to engage a cooperating'abutmen-t 25 on the inner end or the lock cylinder; The. interengagement between these abutments thus provides amotion transmitting connection between the push button actuator and the latch lever by which depression of' the actuator into its bore effects swinging of the latch lever in a counterclockwise direction (FIGURE 1).from a door latching to a door unlatching position shown inconstrucof a downwardly opening notch 37 in the upper: arm

ofthe latch lever to thus yieldinglyrurge the lever clock- 5!} wise toward its door latching position and to maintain the driving abutments 25 and 32 in engagement.

The lower leg 38 of the latch lever projects downwardly and outwardly toward the upper free edge of the door, and carries a hook 39 at its outer extremity. The hook is engageable with a keeper 40 onthe door to normally hold the door closed,- and it will be noted that the keeper 40 is located a substantial distance from the pivot 29 upon which thelatch lever is mounted, and that when the door is closed the keeper is almost directly beneath the projecting portion of the push' button actuator.

The hook 39 on the latch lever has its underside rounded, and the keeper 40 is formed on a striker 41 Which'alsohas arounded upper surfaceto enable'the'latch lever to be cammed-in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed'in FIGURE 1.,toward its door releasing position upon closure of the'door, against the bias of the torsion spring 34 acting upon the latch lever. V

It is a featur'e of the lock mechanism of this invention that the hook39 is formed onthe' outer end of a bolt 43 having a screw threaded connection between its inner end 4'4: and the lower leg 38 of the latch lever, so arranged thatthebolt issubstantially radially disposed with respect to the pivot axis of the lever. The latch lever is preferably madeas a sheet metal stamping having opposite spaced apart leg portions 33a and 38b journaled' on the' pivot; 29, and theselegportions are of unequal lengthsand have inwardly turned flanges 45 on their lower ends spacedfrom one another in a direction radially of the pivot axis of the lever. Threaded holes in'the flanges 45' receive the threaded end portion 44 of-th'e hook bolt and thns serve to connect-the bolt to thelever as a lengthwiseextensible' part of the lever.

With-this construction, it will be apparent that the hook b'olt maybe rotated in one direction or the other about its screwthreaded connection withthe latch lever to adjust the distance between the hook on the outer extremity of the bolt and the'pivot' axis of the lever. The purpose of such adjustment, of course, is to enable the hook to be set' to whatever position assures the desired engagement be tween the hook and the keeper 40 on the door when the door is'in its closedposition defined by suitable stops (not shown), despite substantial-variationin the assembled lo cations of the stamped door'frame, the door itself, or its hinges; g

I'tis-alsoafeature of the lock mechanism'of this invention that rotational adjustment of the hook bolt away from it's desi-red'setting is normally precluded by guide meansfixed'with respect to the lock body and having rcstrictive guiding-engagement with the hook bolt. While the guide meansforso restra'iningrotation ofthe hook bolt may constitute apart onthe latch body itself, in'the present case itis shown as-provided by a flange 47011 the door'frame, adjacent'to the edge of the door opening 12 therein, located a' substantial distance beneath the rear portion of-thelock body and projecting toward the bolt.

This flange has a slot 48 therein, opening to its freecdge; the opposing side edges of"which have sliding engagementwith opposite flat sides 49 formed on an intermediateportion of the'h'ook bolt, to positively preclude rotation of thebolt relative to the lever in all normal positions of the latch lever; From a comparison of FIG- URES 1'and8; itfwill be noted' that the hook bolt can be rotated relative" to the latch lever for adjustment ofthe distance between the hook 39 and the pivot axis of the lever only when the lowerleg of the lever has been swung in the'i clockwise direction beyondits normal keeper engaging p'ositicn' to' an adjusting position at which the flattenedintermediate portion of the hook bolt is displacedfrom its guide slot 48in the door frame flange.

7 Ordinarily, the interengage'mentbetween the drive abut merits 25' and 32 on' the lock cylinder and latch lever, respectively, precludessuch clockwise swingingmotio'n of the latch lever beyond its keeper engaging or dhor latchingposition, but inthe present case, the abutment E3 25 on the inner end of the lock cylinder is so formed as to have cooperative engagement with the abutment 32 on the latch lever only in the unlocked position of rotation of the lock cylinder, as seen in FIGURES l, 4 and 6. As therein shown, the lock cylinder is provided with a recessed portion 51 which opens to the inner end and to one side of the lock cylinder, and which recess aligns with the abutment 32 on the latch lever in the locked position of rotation seen in FIGURES 5, 7 and 8 to allow the latch lever to be swung to its hook bolt adjusting posi tion seen in FIGURE 8.

From the description thus far, it will be appreciated that the motion transmitting connection between the lock cylinder and the latch lever is disrupted whenever the lock cylinder is rotated by its key to its locked position of rotation shown in FIGURES 5, 7 and 8. With the compartment door 13 closed and the cylinder in its locked position of rotation, therefore, it is possible to have the push button actuator provided by the lock cylinder freely depressible into the bore of the lock body, without imparting motion to the latch lever. In the present case, however, such depression of the actuator is blocked by the engagement of an abutment 46 on its inner end with a cooperating abutment 50 in the bore of the lock body. Consequently, while the upper end of the latch lever can be swung in a direction counter to the unlatching stroke of the push button actuator without interference from the actuator, the actuator itself cannot be depressed.

It is a further feature of this invention that even though the push button actuator is rotated to its locked position, the latch lever cannot be swung to the bolt adjusting position shown in FIGURE 8 without first disengaging the extremity 53 on the arm 36 of the torsion spring from the outwardly facing side 54 of the notch in the upper arm of the latch lever. In its normal position, the extremity 53 of the torsion spring engages the side 54 of the notch and in this position would collide with the inwardly facing rear edge of the adjacent car 15 to block clockwise rotation of the latch lever beyond its keeper engaging position seen in FIGURE 1. Hence, when the hook bolt is to be rotationally adjusted, the extremity 53 53 on the torsion spring must be disengaged from the bottom of the notch 37 in the lever and moved into a recess 55 near the mouth of the notch. This not only allows the lever to be swung far enough to eifect displacement of the flattened intermediate portion of the hook bolt from its guide slot 48, but enables the spring to releasably hold the latch lever in its bolt adjusting position.

After the adjustment is made, the lever is swung coun terclockwise to its keeper engaging position, and then the extremity 53 of the spring is replaced into the bottom of the notch.

Inasmuch as the motion transmitting connection between the lock cylinder and the latch lever is disrupted whenever the lock cylinder is rotated to its locked position, it will be apparent that the torsion spring 34 which acts upon the latch lever cannot act uponthe-lock cylinder in the locked position thereof to hold it in its outer limit of motion and against rattling on the instrument panel. For this purpose a separate plunger 56 is mounted in the rear end of the lock body and biased outwardly by a cylinder return spring 57 topress against the inner end of the lock cylinder and yieldinglyihold it in its outer limit of motion. As best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, the plunger 56 is a simple stamping having a stem which passes longitudinally through the spring and a head 58 at its inner end forming shoulders against which the adjacent end of the spring bears. The head 58 is curled to provide a smooth bearing surface which engages against the adjacent inner end of the cylinder. The other end' of the stem of the plunger passes through a hole 59 which is smaller than the well in which the spring is seated, and to hold the plunger and spring against disassembly from the body when the lock cylinder is re- 6 moved, the outer end of the stem of the plunger is bent over, as at 60.

From the foregoing description taken together with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention provides a lock mechanism for a glove compartment door or the like having a hook bolt carried by a latch lever and engageable with a keeper on the door, wherein the hook bolt is capable of substantial lengthwise adjustment to overcome wide variations in the assembled positions of the door frame, the door itself, and the door hinges, to enable the hook to be adjusted to any desired position for best engagement with the keeper; and it will also be apparent that simple but effective means on the panel upon which the lock mechanism is mounted cooperates with the hook bolt to normally preclude accidental rotational adjustment of the hook bolt relative to the latch lever.

What I claim as my invention is: a

1. A glove box latch installation of the type having a. closure mounted on a panel for motion toward and from a position covering an opening in the panel to close off access to the glove box, a latch body mounted on the panel at a location adjacent to an edge of said opening and carrying an actuator which is movable back and forth between defined limits, a latch lever pivotally carried by the body for swinging motion to and from an operative position at which a hook on the lever engages a keeper on the closure to hold the closure in said position closing off access to the glove box, and cooperating driving abut ments on the lever and the actuator providing a motion transmitting connection therebetween whereby movement of the actuator from one limit of motion to the other eifects swinging of the lever in one direction out of its operative keeper engaging position to a keeper disengaging position to free the closure for movement to another position afiording access to the glove box, said installation being characterized by: the fact that said hook is formed on the outer end of a bolt having a screw threaded connection between its inner end and the latch lever so that rotation of the bolt adjusts the spacing between its hook and the pivot axis of the lever; the -fact that an intermediate portion of the bolt has flat opposite sides lying in planes normal to the pivot axis of the lever; the provision of guide means fixed with respect to the latch body normally having restrictive guiding engagernent with said sides on the bolt to restrain rotational adjustment of the bolt except upon motion of the latch lever and the bolt thereon in the opposite direction beyond a normal keeper engaging position; and the fact that one of said driving abutments is movable relative to the outer to an inoperative position at which the motion transmitting connection between the actuator and the lever is disrupted so as to thereby enable the lever and the bolt thereon to be swung in said opposite direction beyond the normal keeper engaging position of the bolt, without interference from the actuator, to a bolt adjusting position at which the bolt is free of said guide means and can be rotated to effect adjustment of the spacing of its hook from the pivot axis of the lever.

2. A glove box latch installation of the type having a closure mounted on a panel for motion toward and from a position closing otf access to the glove box, a latch body mounted on the panel at a location adjacent to an edge of said opening and alongside a flange on the panel, said latch body carrying a push button actuator for motion in opposite directions between defined limits, relative to the panel, a latch lever pivotally carried by the body for swinging motion in opposite directions toward and from an operative position at which a hook on the lever engages a keeper on the closure to hold the closure in said position closing off access to the glove box, and co.- operating driving abutments on the lever and the actuator providing a motion transmitting connection therebetween whereby movement of the push button actuator in one direction from one limit of motion to the other 7 eflects swinging of the lever in one direction out of its operative keeper engaging position to a keeper dis'eiiga'g ing-lposition freeing the closure for movement to another position affording access to the glove box, said instailation being characterized by: the fact that said hook is formed on the outer end of a bolt having a screw thread ed connection between its inner end and the latch lever so that rotation of the bolt adjusts the spacing between itshook and the pivot axis of the lever; the'fact that a portion of the bolt intermediate its hook and its threaded inner end has flat opposite sides lying in planes normal tothe pivot axis of the lever; the fact that said the push button'actuator and the lever is disrupted so as to thereby enable the lever and the bolt thereoneto be swung in said opposite direction without interference from theactuator beyond its normal keeper engaging position to a hook bolt adjusting position at which the bolt is displaced from said slot and can be rotated to efiect adjustmentof the spacing of its hook from the pivot axis of the lover. I V

7 3. A glove box latch installation of the type having a latch body mounted on a panel at a location adjacent to an edge thereof and having a push button actuator mounted therein for motion in opposite directions between de fined. limits, a latch lever pivotallycarried by the body andhaving a part extending from one side of the body for swingingmotion in opposite directions between keeperengaging'and keeper disengaging positions, and map erating driving abutments on the lever and the actuator providing a motion transmitting connection therebetween whereby movement of the push button actuator in one direction from one limit of motion to the other effects swinging of the lever in one direction out of" its operative keeper engaging position to a keeper disengaging position, saidinstallation being characterized by: a keeperengagin'ghook on the lever formed on the outer end of a bolt having a screw threaded connection between its inner end and the latch lever so that rotation of the bolt adjusts the spacing between said hook and'the pivot axis of the lever; the-fact that a length of the bolt intermediate itshook and its threaded inner end has flat opposite sides lying in planes normal to the pivot-axis of the lever; the provision of guide means fixed with respect to the latch body, having restrictive guiding engagement with said sides on'the bolt in all normal positions of the latchlever onits pivot'to' confine the bolt against adjusting..rotation-,- thelbolt being disengageablefronrsaid guide means.upon swinging of the lever and the bolt thereonin the opposite direction to a a position beyond; its normal keeper engagingpositionto permit; such adjusting rotation; and the fact that one :of said-driving ahutments -is movable relative to the other to aninoperative position at which the motion transmitting connection between the actuator and the lever is disrupted so as to thereby enable the-lever and the bolt thereon to be swung'beyond its normal keeper engaging. position, withoutinterference from the actuator-to arhook bolt adjustingrpositiomat which thebolt'is disengaged from said guide means and can-be rotated to adjust'the spacingof its book fromthe pivot axis of the lever;

4 The glove box latch installation set forth in -claim-lr further characterizedby the fact that the push-button actuator comprises a'lock cylinder axially slidably mounted in the latch body and rotatable betweenlocked and unlocked positions; the fact'that the-*driv'ing. abutment on the push button actuator is located on the lock cylinder in such a position as to have engagement with the lever-carried abutment only in the unlocked position of rotation of the cylinder, whereby rotation of the lock cylinder to a locked position in the latch body disrupts the motion transmitting connection between the actuator and'the latch lever. v v

5. The glove box latch installation set forth in claim 4' further characterized by the provision of a torsion spring coiled about the latch lever'pivot, said spring having'one arm reacting against the latch body audits other arm reacting against the latch lever to yieldingly urge the lever in a direction to maintain said driving abutments en'gag'ed said' other arm of the spring also engaging a portion of the latch body and lying in the path of aii abutment'on' the latch lever to normally preclude swinging motion of the hook bolt beyond its keeper engaging positioh' except upon disengagement of said other arm of the spring from the abutment on the latch lever.

( 6. A gloveboxlatchinstallation of the type having a archway mounted on a' panel at a location adjacent to an" edge thereof and having a push button actuator mounted'therein for motion in opposite directions between defined limits; a latch lever pivotally carried by the body and having. a part extending from one side of the body for swinging motion in opposite directions between keeper engaging and keeper disengaging positions, and cooperating drivingabutments on the lever and the actuator providing a motion transmitting connection therebetween wher'hy movement of the push button actuator in one direction from one limit of motion to the other eliects swinging" or" the lever in one direction out of its operative keeper engaging position to a keeper disengaging position; said installation being characterized-by: a bolt ltaiiin'ga' keeper engaging hook thereon; means forming a longitudinally adjustable connection between the latch leve and the bolt, the adjustability of said connection enabling the spacing between the hook and the pivot axis to be varied, adjustment of said connection requiring notation of the bolt withrespect' to the latch lever; the bolt havinga fiat side surface; guide means fixed'with respeet'to"the latch body having a flat surface lying in a plane'nor'inhl'tothe pivot axis about which the latch lever swings anderig'agirig'the flat side surface on the bolt to hold'the bolt' against rotation in all normal positions of the latch lever, the fiat sidesur-faceo'n the bolt being disengag'eahle froni'th'ef guide meanstopermit rotation of the'bolt upiiri swin'girig of the lever andthe bolt thereon to a positionbeyorid' its'n'ol'rhal keeper engaging position; and further characterized" bythe fact that one of said drivingabutm'en'ts'is" movable-relative to the other to an inoperative position atwhich thernotion' transmitting connection between the actuator and the lever is disrupted allowing. the lever' and the bolt thereon to be swung bey ndits onrrarkeeper engaging position, without interferencefrorh the actuator to a hook bolt adjusting; positionat whichthe' flatsid'e 'surfa'c'e' o'r'i'the'bolt is disengaged from said uide means and" the bblt" can b e'lr'otated" to adjust the spacirigiof' its nook'rroaithe' pivot ax'is'fof the lever.

' 7f Xconipa'rtr'nent'door' latch comprising 'theconib'ina tion' of i a' latch'body havin'g'a' bore; a pushbuttbii actu atorin thebore; a-la'tch'lever pivotally carried by the latch body with aportion thereofprojectirigdnto the boreto be acted upon" by 'the'pnsh-button actuator; a latch spring reactingibetweeii the-latch body-'andthe-latch le'v'er yieldin'glyl urging the latchlevei'toward a keeper' engaging position, from which position" the latch lever may be swung against the'force of the-spring by' depression of the actuaton'i a" bolt having a screw threaded connection withthelatch lever and prbjecting fron'i the latch-lever substantially radially with respectto the pivot axis of the latch lever? a keeper engaginghook on'the' outer end portionpfithe bolt,- th'e'distance between'the' hookand the pivot: axis of the latch" lever being: adjustable by rotation of the bolt; means to define the normal limits of swinging motion of the latch lever, said means including a part on the latch spring providing an abutment yieldingly maintained by the latch spring in a position in which it coacts with the lever to define one of said limits and from which position it may be moved to allow the lever to be swung beyond said limit of swinging motion; and guide means carried by the latch body and engaging the bolt to prevent rotation of the bolt as long as the latch lever remains within its normal limits of swinging motion, the bolt being disengaged from said guide means, and, hence rotatable when the latch lever is swung beyond said one limit.

8. A compartment door latch comprising the combination of: a bored latch body; spaced apart substanitally parallel ears projecting from the latch body; a latch lever in the form of a sheet metal stamping having spaced apart substantially parallel leg portions, said latch lever being received between the ears on the latch body with its leg portions contiguous to the inner faces of the ears; a pivot pin passing through said ears and the leg portions to pivotally mount the latch lever for swinging movement toward and from a keeper engaging position and with one end thereof projecting into the bore in the latch body; a spring reacting between the latch body and the latch lever urging the latter toward its keeper engaging position; an actuator slidable in the bore and engageable with the latch lever to swing the same away from its keeper engaging position; inwardly directed flanges on the leg portions of the latch lever spaced from one another radially of the pivot pin axis, said flanges having tapped holes; a bolt threaded in said tapped holes and projecting from the latch lever substantially radially with respect to the pivot axis; and a keeper engaging hook on the outer end portion of the bolt, the distance between said hook and the pivot axis being adjustable by screwing the bolt into or out of the tapped holes.

9. A compartment door latch of the type having a pushbutton actuator axially slidable back and forth in a bore in a latch body, and a latch lever swingable on a pivot which is located at one side of the push-button actuator and which extends transversely to the push-button axis, wherein depression of the push-button actuator into the bore swings the latch lever in a direction to carry a hook thereon from a keeper engaging position toward a keeper disengaging position, characterized by: the fact that the latch lever comprises a sheet metal stamping having spaced apart substantially parallel leg portions through both of which the pivot extends and which project radially from the pivot axis in a direction away from the pushbutton actuator, said leg portions being joined by a transverse connecting member which is integral with both of them and terminating at their end portions remote from the pivot in inturned flanges which extend substantially parallel to the pivot axis and are spaced apart in said direction, and said flanges having tapped holes; a bolt threaded in said holes and having the hook on its outer end so that the distance between the hook and the pivot axis of the latch lever may be adjusted by screwing the bolt in or out; and an arm integral with one of said leg portions and extending in a direction toward the pushbutton actuator, said arm having a surface thereon which provides an abutment cooperable with an abutment on the actuator whereby depression of the actuator is translated into swinging motion of the latch lever in the direction toward its keeper disengaging position.

10. In a compartment door lock: a body having a bore opening to the front of the body and having a slot opening into the inner end portion of the bore to one side of the axis of the bore; a lock cylinder in the bore, said cylinder being rotatable between locked and unlocked positions and also being axially slidable in the bore; cooperating abutments on the body and the lock cylinder to limit outward axial motion of the lock cylinder; a latch lever pivotally carried by the body and having an end portion projecting through said slot and into the bore; a driving abutment on the inner end of the lock cylinder to engage said end portion of the latch lever only when the cylinder is in its unlocked position of rotation so that in said position of the cylinder the latch lever may be rocked on its pivot by inward axial motion of the cylinder; a spring reacting between the body and the latch lever yieldingly urging the latch lever about its pivot in a direction to press its inner end portion against the driving abutment on the cylinder and thereby yieldingly hold the lock cylinder at its limit of outward axial motion as long as the lock cylinder is in its unlocked position of rotation; a coiled spring confined between the inner end of the lock cylinder and the bottom of the bore to yieldingly urge the lock cylinder to its outward limit of motion when the lock cylinder is in its locked position of rotation at which its driving abutment is disengaged from the inner end of the latch lever; and a spring retainer having a stem portion extending through the coil spring, and a head portion on the inner end of the stem providing a shoulder against which the spring bears, the head portion being interposed between the spring and the adjacent inner end of the lock cylinder, the outer end of the retainer stem passing through a hole in the body at the bottom of its bore, and said outer end of the spring retainer stem being bent to prevent its passage through said hole so as to hold the spring assembled with the body when the lock cylinder is removed from the bore.

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